Andrew Cuomo Sues Sexual Harassment Accuser Charlotte Bennett for Defamation After 2021 Resignation

Dec 19, 2024, 09:22 PM

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has filed a notice to sue Charlotte Bennett, a former aide who accused him of sexual harassment, for defamation. The legal action comes after Bennett dropped her federal lawsuit against Cuomo, which she had filed in September 2022, alleging that he subjected her to unwanted advances. The defamation lawsuit is in response to a statement made by Bennett's attorney, Debra Katz, on December 9, 2024, reiterating the sexual harassment allegations against Cuomo. In the notice, Cuomo's lawyers claim that Bennett's accusations were false and intended to cause harm to the former governor. The legal battle follows a series of accusations against Cuomo, which led to his resignation in August 2021 after a state investigation concluded he had sexually harassed at least 11 women, including Bennett. Cuomo is seeking compensatory and punitive damages in his defamation lawsuit.